 308th Fighter Squadron The 308th Fighter Squadron (308 FS) is part of the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. It operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting advanced fighter training. History The 308th was activated on January 30, 1942, as the 308th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) and was activated at Baer Field, Fort Wayne, Indiana. After five months of training in the P-39 Airacobra, the squadron joined the war in Europe when it was assigned to a base in England in June 1942. The squadron's aircraft did not accompany the unit to England and 308th pilots and technicians spent a two-month period undergoing intensive training in flying and fighting in the British Spitfire. The squadron flew its first combat mission on August 18, 1942, when it attacked enemy positions in occupied France. In November 1942, the unit moved to Gibraltar and supported the allied invasion of North Africa. In February 1943, the Spitfires of the 308th supported allied efforts which halted Field Marshal Rommel's advance on allied positions. In July 1943, Spitfires from the 308th provided support for Allied Forces as the Invasion of Italy began with the capture of Sicily. As Allied bomber forces operating from Italy began the strategic bombing of Axis petroleum and communications facilities in central Europe and the Balkans, the 308th was re-equipped with the North American P-51 Mustang to replace the shorter-ranged Spitfire. In August 1944, the P-51's were involved in the invasion of Southern France. In December 1944, the first destruction of a German jet fighter by a 308th P-51 occurred. By war's end, the 308th had earned two Distinguished Unit Citations and was involved in eight campaigns. The 308th again pitted its aircraft against an enemy when it was assigned to Bien Hoa Air Base in the Republic of Vietnam. For its efforts in Southeast Asia from December 16, 1966 to October 15, 1970, the 308th was awarded the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm. The 308th Fighter Squadron also won the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with combat "V" device. On October 1, 1986, the squadron was re-designated a fighter squadron and re-equipped with the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The 308th was first assigned to Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, and then to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, and on April 1, 1994 to Luke Air Force Base. The 308th ranks tenth as the most highly decorated unit in Air Force history among the 152 fighter squadrons that were ever active |  56th Fighter Wing The United States Air Force 56th Fighter Wing (56 FW) is the host wing for Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. It is part of Air Education and Training Command's (AETC) Nineteenth Air Force. The 56th FW provides day-to-day mission support to more than 7,500 military members and 15,000 family members. It is home to more than 180 General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft and 27 squadrons of which eight are F-16 fighter squadrons. The 56th Fighter Wing graduates more than 450 F-16 pilots and 900 crew chiefs annually. Air Education and Training Command's (AETC) Nineteenth Air Force. Lineage The 56th Operations Group is the successor to the United States Army Air Forces 56th Fighter Groupactivated on 15 January 1941 at Savannah, Georgia. The United States Army Air Force 56th Fighter Wing was established on 28 July 1947 at Selfridge Field (later, AFB), MIchigan. It was inactivated on 6 February 1952. It was redesignated as the 56th Fighter Wing (Air Defense), and activated on 28 December 1960. Upon activation the wing was bestowed the honours and history of the World War II USAAF 56th Fighter Group. It was discontinued, and inactivated, on 1 January 1964. Redesignated as 56th Air Commando Wing and activated on 16 March 1967. Redesignated: 56th Special Operations Wing on 1 August 1968; 56th Tactical Fighter Wing on 30 June 1975; 56th Tactical Training Wing on 1 October 1981; 56th Fighter Wing on 1 October 1991. Air Education and Training Command The wing was reassigned to Luke AFB April 1, 1994. Under the 56th Fighter Wing, which retains its F-16C/D training mission, is the 21st, 61st, 62d, 63d, 308th, 309th, 310th and the 425th Fighter Squadrons. |
